Present: Mrs J Priest, Mrs J Ferguson, Mr B Craighead, Mr R Russel, Ms P Stephen, Mr W Alder
In attendance: Cllr P MacLennan, PC K Hughes, Mr J Wilson (Community Warden), Mr T Tait & Mr A Tait (members of the public)
1.0 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Mr E Hill, Ms K Moulin, Ms A Cosgrove, Mr J Robson, Cllr J Bell
2.0 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 4th FEBRUARY, 2009
Mr Robson requested a few amendments.
In section 5.0, line 4 should read, “The Local Priorities Budget has been fully committed and no further projects could be funded until full costing of the power socket in the Square had been obtained.”
In section 8.0, under Christmas lights, the following should be added. “Given the cost of the replacement lights, and the poor display, Mr Robson didn’t think that the expenditure was value for money”
After the sentence “More lights are to be purchased for East Linton and Whitekirk” he would like to add, “and as agreed by Mrs Priest, funds would come from the Current (Admin) Account. Mr Robson requested a quote before funding was committed.”
Mr Robson would also like to add that since the meeting, it has been discovered that the power socket cost some £400, leaving £600 uncommitted in the Local Priorities Budget. This can be used instead for further lights purchase, providing a quote is received, agreed, and funds committed before 31st March 2010.
It was otherwise agreed to be a correct record of the meeting.
POLICE REPORT
PC Hughes has been made aware that there have been a number of noise related incidents around the Prestonkirk House area again. They were not reported at the time. The Police needs people with incidents to report to ring in as soon as possible to enable officers to attend and assess the situation. There has also been a report of a male in the garden of an elderly resident of Prestonkirk Gardens in the early hours of the morning. Again the resident did not ring Police at the time. If the Police had been contacted, officers could have attended and summoned a dog handler to the area in an attempt to trace the male and obtain his details.
PC Hughes was in the village with the traffic warden recently. No tickets were issued for DB Yellow line offences as there were no offences. It was apparent that word had spread of their presence.
At the end of last month a vehicle was stopped just after ten pm near to the medical practice. The vehicle was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act and a quantity of herbal Cannabis was discovered. A male has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
PC Hughes is also aware of an off road motorbike being ridden in the Smiddy Wynd area by a male driver who was not wearing a helmet. He has sufficient information to trace him and will be dealing with this shortly.
Operation Equate (High profile event where the public can attend at different locations for CP advice and survey’s by the fire service etc) will be at Dunbar ASDA on the 27th of March this will be a morning slot. In the afternoon the intention was to head for West Barns.
One of the main items on the agenda at the last CAPP meeting was the Anti Dog Fouling Campaign. Dog fouling is a major problem in the area and a Dog Fouling Watch has been set up in an attempt to identify dog owners who do not pick up their dog waste.
The next CAPP meeting will be on the 15th of April.
MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Juniors Football
Tommy and Andrew Tait had a meeting with Cllr Hampshire and Jim Wilson regarding the hut in the park, which they are keen to repair and paint for use by the Juniors Team for storing equipment, etc. Cllr Hampshire will contact Jessie Turner to inform her that a group is keen to take on the hut at no cost to the Council.
It was pointed out that the Football Team would need insurance for the building.
Mr Tait was pleased to report that the team is doing very well and has a home match on Saturday, at which all supporters would be most welcome.
4.2 Paths
Mrs Ferguson informed the Council that the Markle path is temporarily closed as QTS are doing work on the railway line. She noted that the path has been obliterated by heavy machinery and it was agreed that QTS would need to reinstate the path when work is finished at the beginning of April.
Ms Stephen observed that the white bridge near Preston Mill is not safe since a tree hit it. The tree has now been removed and the bridge is ready to be repaired.
Ms Stephen will approach Willie Hamilton regarding repairs to the sleepers on the black bridge.
Mr Dale wishes to erect a shed at Jeanfield. He is aware that this may result in more lorries and has said that he will request they do not come through the village.
4.3 Roads/Pavements
The speed reactive sign will move back to Drylaw Terrace in March.
Brian Cooper stated in an email that ELC’s intention is to allocate funding in the 2010/11 proposed programme of cycling, walking and safer streets projects. He goes on to point out that despite constraints regarding traffic calming, other measures (as discussed with Community Councillors) are possible and can be implemented during the forthcoming financial year.
Mr Craighead observed that the road cleaner from Markle Quarry is not doing both sides of the road and that mud on the road continues to be a problem.
A mirror is still required for the entrance to Smeaton.
4.4 ELDA article for March
Mrs Priest will write this.
4.5 BeGreen initiative- meeting 8th Feb
Ms Moulin, who attended the meeting, was absent this evening.
4.6 Fairtrade East Linton
Ms Kilpatrick, who is involved with this, was absent this evening. Fairtrade activities are taking place at East Linton Primary School.
4.7 Community Planning Task Group
Mrs Priest attended the meeting last Saturday. A series of local meetings [in East Linton, West Barns etc] was discussed to which all groups would be invited to determine local issues for the Task group.
5.0 TREASURER’S REPORT/ LOCAL PRIORITIES BUDGET
Mr Robson was absent this evening.
Mrs Priest noted that as long as the £600 left in the Local Priorities budget is committed, it can be rolled over to next financial year. £400 is for lights for Tyninghame and East Linton and the remainder is to pay for work on the lights done by Mr Warren. His invoice must be received before the end of the financial year.
Mr Craighead pointed out that the tree in the Square should be pruned before the lights go on. Ms Stephen noted that this would best be done in autumn.
Money from the Capital Development Fund was used to provide matched funding for visualisers at East Linton Primary School.
It was suggested that bushes could be purchased for the area by the wall at the foot of Lauder Place.
6.0 TRAPRAIN AND WHITTINGEHAME ISSUES
Ms Moulin spoke to the owners of the house in whose garden the Whittingehame phone box stands and it appears that they are happy for it to be removed.
7.0 TYNINGHAME, WHITEKIRK AND MARKLE ISSUES
Mrs Ferguson reported that work is being done on the drains at Markle and is not yet finished. Already residents have noticed an improvement.
Beyond the level crossing, the potholes are extremely bad.
8.0 TOWN MAINTENANCE/TOURISM INITIATIVES
Jessie
Mr Govan was featured in the East Lothian Courier and Edinburgh Evening News regarding his family’s tradition of winding the clock. There is no progress to report on the socket – meanwhile Jessie is still not working.
Hailes leaflet
Dr Pooley was absent from the meeting.
Information board at Preston Road
The board has arrived and is at Mrs Priest’s house. It will be installed at Preston Road when Planning Permission is granted.
Depth Gauge
Mrs Priest will get prices for the various options.
Spraying Compost
Ms Stephen informed the Council that Mr Dale has located a blower lorry that will spray a layer of compost. This, if mixed with wildflower seeds would be ideal for the East end field by the old Torness Motors site, which is too stony for most machinery. If half a day’s blower lorry hire could be shared with another area, this might be a viable option. Councillors were asked to give the matter some thought.
Benches
Ms Stephen will investigate benches made from recycled farm plastic.
9.0 PLANNING MATTERS/ HOUSING SUB COMMITTEE
Mrs Priest informed the Council that the proposed development at Orchardfield has been passed by Planning, although no time scale has been given.
Traprain Farm has applied for Planning Permission for a wind turbine
The owners of Preston Mains Farm have applied for Planning Permission to develop the barn behind Smeaton Lake for residential use.
Ms Stephen confirmed that the barn at Phantassie will be available for use as Phantassie Skate Park. Cllr MacLennan will meet with Adrian Girling next week to discuss plans for a bigger, more permanent site.
10.0 PUBLIC TRANSPORT/RAGES
Mr Craighead observed that Railtrack has been gassing rabbits along the railway line between East Linton and Markle. He pointed out that it is illegal to kill rabbits between January and April. Cllr MacLennan thought that there is an exemption and Mr Craighead will check this out.
11.0 CORRESPONDENCE
ELC: Agenda JMCP Advisory Group meeting 11 March
ELC: Civic Pride Fund
East Linton Juniors Football Club re hut
EL Tenants and Residents panel info.
ELC Feedback on Draft Older People’s Strategy
Email: Ms S Scott re traffic on Drylaw Terrace
Girl Guiding Centenary, funding request [carried over to April]
:
12.0 ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
Mrs Priest confirmed that Dunpender Community Council, with the exception of Mr Craighead, had agreed not to have the byelaw prohibiting drinking in public.
Mr Russel had driven from Dunbar to Haddington and was appalled by the amount of rubbish at the side of the A1 road. Cllr MacLennan advised him to write to Bear Scotland.
14.0 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be on Thursday, 1st April 2010 at 7.30pm in the Council Chambers, East Linton.